Help needed with 12 wk old wether with diarrhea

[ChksontheRun]

Little preface here. This little guy (mini nubian) was always the runt of the spring kids. A little frail from day 1. 3 weeks ago he started really looking puny and got HORRIBLE dandruf and and itchiness. He was off feed and I was really worried. I decided after reading posts that he needed Bose. His mother did not get it before kidding. I got some from the vet, and gave him a dose with some B complex. He perked up the next morning. Within the next week his skin started to clear up, and by now, his dandruf is gone. End of phase 1.

Thursday last week I immunized all babys with CD and T.

On Friday last week, our 1 bottle baby(Esther) got the runs. I gave her a dose of Pepto, and changed her to electrolytes, cleared up in 24 hours and is completely gone. Phase 2

On Sunday, I gave a pat of hay to the kids and they all gorged themselves. I dont know why they did this as they have never done this before, but the kids (5) ate the whole pat within about an hour. All had full bellies. By Monday morning, all were fine except Rolex. Rolex had a huge belly and arched back, and would not eat. I gave him some baking soda, and rubbed his belly for a bit, then left for work. When I came home he was happily playing with the other kids and belly was soft.


Starting yesterday he has had diarrhea. Not watery but soft brown with no bad odor. So I chalked it up to over eating on that hay, gave him some pepto. He acts well, eats with the others, plays, no arched back, but he has the runs.

Now, I noticed that the adults have dog logs for poops. There is lots of new green food that they are enjoying, but it has been out for a week or 2 now. Also lots of rain recently although the barn is dry.

I think I will try to take a stool sample to the vet tomorrow to see if he has any idea what is causing it before just throwing everything at them.

Here is my question. What do yall suggest I start with. I could worm them all. They have not been wormed since last summer. I could treat the babies for coccydia although that seems a little late. I could make up some baking soda balls and hope that calms down the tummies. When do I worry about little Rolex? He doesn't seem dehydrated at all. His skin turgor is fine on his back.

Help. I have only had goats for 8 months. So far everything has gone smooth as silk but right now I am not really sure what to do. There is lots of poop out there in the goat yard.

Oh, and temps are normal.

 

[ksalvagno]

I would have a fecal done on your goats before you do any worming. May as well find out what the parasite is so you are treating with the appropriate wormer.

I would start Rolex on DiMethox 40%. I wouldn't be surprised if he has coccidia.

 

[ChksontheRun]

I have Corid, would that work?

And what is the dose for goats

 

[Ariel301]

Yeah, diarrhea at that age could be coccidia. I don't know what the dose is for Corid, I use Di-Methox powder.

 

[elevan]

Label for CoRid

 

[ksalvagno]

I think you have to use Corid straight for goats but I have no idea on dosage. The package directions isn't a high enough dose.

 

[ChksontheRun]

Found a post that said to give 25 mg per kg instead of 10. I gave it last night. This am, no more liquid poops for Rolex. They are still logs but not liquid. Sure wish I knew what brought this on. I am guessing lush fresh grass that he had never had, over eating on rich hay, and still sort of weakened from the bout with dermatitis just came together to create an environment for the over growth of coccidia. All of the adults have pellets again this morning, and it is raining so they will not be out eating the rich green stuff.

Do other people have difficulty with stuff like this in the spring. This is the first time we have had goats and I would love to know if this is typical.

 

[helmstead]

Wet weather = cocci bloom, I'd treat everything in the herd under 1 yr. and run fecals on everyone.

And, PLEASE throw away the Pepto. Using Pepto on a goat can kill them (goats never just *have* the scours, there's always a reason - and plugging them up will just let it kill them faster).

I use CoRid at 2.5 cc per 10 lbs UNDILUTED.

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

I know there are varying opinions on this, but I do think using Pepto as a treatment for scours may only mask the symptoms while the illness persists and possibly worsens.

 

[20kidsonhill]

Found a post that said to give 25 mg per kg instead of 10. I gave it last night. This am, no more liquid poops for Rolex. They are still logs but not liquid. Sure wish I knew what brought this on. I am guessing lush fresh grass that he had never had, over eating on rich hay, and still sort of weakened from the bout with dermatitis just came together to create an environment for the over growth of coccidia. All of the adults have pellets again this morning, and it is raining so they will not be out eating the rich green stuff.

Do other people have difficulty with stuff like this in the spring. This is the first time we have had goats and I would love to know if this is typical.

Yup, cocci is a pain around here in the spring, that is why we were trying to kid out in December and sell off all our kids by April, this year we kidded in February and march and we have now treated all the kids twice for cocci(with corid) and had to treat 2 or 3 of them an extra time. we check bottoms twice a day on everyone for scours/liquid poop.

All our kids also receive a medicated feed, but it only helps so much if they are still on pasture with mom. Once they are weaned then they are put into a dry lot until they are sold(at 3 or 4months). If they are keeper does, they will go back out on pasture and one pound of medicated feed at around 4 or 5 months of age, but i keep a very close eye on them their first summer. And if they are show whethers for 4H, they go back on a tiny bit of pasture, but they are on a ton of medicated grain, up to 3 or 4 lbs each.

The key to cocci is either treat on a regular basis for it, or always be thinking about it and have the medications on hand to start treating right away.

After 4 or 5 months of age, I find not only should you be considering cocci, but don't forget tape worm loads(large grains of rice in the poop) and those nasty baber pole worms(anemia). But cocci is always my first suspect when dealing with young goats under 15months and especially during wet pasture conditions.